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Economy changes lifestyles; people now staying home

Date Posted: 2010-02-04

The depressed state of the world economy is impacting people in many ways, but on Okinawa, a lot of changes are falling in the categories of dining out and drinking in bars.

A new survey shows Okinawans are staying home more. An Okinawan supermarket says people are now beginning to purchase warm foods, then sitting around a one-pot meal at home. Sukiyaki’s on increasingly popular favorite, along with pots of chowder. Sales are up, supermarket managers say, not only for foods, but for cooking utensils and air cleaners. The stores are even special packaging utensils for use with one-pot meals. Vegetables and fish are both easy to sell, prepare and serve, and supermarkets say sales are good because people just don’t want to go out.

Stores, including San-A, report people wanting to stay warm are also buying warm bedding goods and heaters. San-A says sales are up 5-10%, and many items are selling out as quickly as they’re put on the shelf. Best Denki’s Ameku branch reports rice cookers, ovens and microwave ovens are selling well, as are home bakery machines. Best Denki says sales have increased more than 10% over one year ago.